Heater for water-circulating systems.



Patented Mar. 11,1913.

1 v [11. M. 111x011. HEATER FOR WATER GIRGULATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, 1907.

v WITNESSES:

into one and of casting' 2, and a cap piece 4:-

ROBERT M. DIXON, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, T0 STANDARD HEAT AND VENTILATION COMPANY, INC.. 01? NEW YORK,

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

. HEA'iI'ER FOR WATER-CIRCULAT1NG SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Itatent.

Application filed April 24, 1907'. Serial No. 369,907.

Patented Mar. 11., 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be'itknown that I, Ronnn'r M. Dixon, residingat East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Heaters forTWatenCiroulating Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact descriptiom'siicli as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appcrtains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to heating apparatus, and more'especially to aheater for a water circulating system.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved steamheater for a water-circulating system which will automatically controlthe discharge of. the steam and the water of condensation.

Another object thereof is to provide a novel form of thermostaticregulating derice for a heater of the above type whereby the who-1eapparatus, while automatically regulated, is self-contained.

A- further object is to provide an automatically regulated heater for awater circulating system wherein the danger of free ing is substantiallyeliminated.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features ofconstruction,combinations of clemerits and arrangement of parts whichwill be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and thescope of the application of which will be indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated one of the variouspossible cmbcdini'ents of my invention, Figure 1 is a horizontalsectional view taken through the heater; and Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional viewof the same.

I Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout bothviews of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein I have shown my invention adaptedto be iapplied to a hot water heating apparatus adapted to be used inrailway cars or similar structures, 1 indicates a drum comprising in thepresent instance a chambered casting 2, a longitudinally extendingcasing 3 threaded threaded upon the opposite end of easing 3. Drum 1 isprovided with ports, as at 5 and 6, either of which may be used as aninlet port, the one not so employed being adapted to be closed by meansof a plug, and a water outlet port is provided for the opposite end ofdrum 1, as at 7. A suitable draw-oif port is provided in drum 1 at 8 inthe lowest portion thereof, through which the entire circulating systemmay be drained. It will be understood that water entering either ofports 5 or 6 will circulate through the drum and leave the same throughoutlet. port 7.

'Jhreaded into the opposite end of casting 2 is a chai'nbered head 9provided with steam inlet ports, as at 10 and 11, either or both ofwhich may be utilized for the admission of stcan'l. A steam conduit 12is threaded into head 9, said conduit. extending longitudinally of waterdrum 1, the opposite end thereof being received in a suitable aperture13 provided in the interior of head 4 and closed by means of a screwplug 14.

Seated in an aperture of a web 15 which forms a wall of a chamber 16into which lead the inlet ports- ]0 and 11 of head 9 is a spur tube 17.This tube, which is disposed eccentrically with respect to conduit 12 soas to lie in the bottom thereof as shown in Fig. 9', extendslongitudinally substantially the entire length thereof and is'apertured,as at 18, so that the steam passing theretlirough may freely enter saidconduit. Spur tube 17 is preferably .t'ormcd of brass or similarmetallic substance having a relatively high cocllicicnt of expansion.

In the outer end oi head 9 is formed av discharge port it) whichconnects a valve chamber 220, the walls of which are integral with saidhead, with the interior of conduit- 12 by means of a passageway 21.Extending through valve chamber 20 is a post 22, one end oil which isprovided with a. plurality of webs 23 which enter the discharge port 19,the dimensions of webs 23 being such as to ccnter post 22 with respectto said port and also with respect to the walls of valve chamber 20.Slidably mounted upon post 2 is a.valve 24 adapted to coact with a valvescat 25 formed exterior-1y of discharge port- 19, valve 24 beingnormally urged to-v ward said seat by means of a coil spring 26encircling pbst 22 and interposed between the valve and a collar 27'threaded upon the post and fixed in position thereon by means of a pm,27. Threaded interiorly o't post 22 and extending inwardly to the end ofspur tube 17 is a stem 28, the inner end of which is secured to thecorresponding end of the spur tube, stem 28 in the present instancebeing brazed thereto. Stem 28 is disposed eccentrically with respect tospur tube 17 and lies in contact with the bottom thereof, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. This stem is formed of a metal having arelatively low coetiicient of expansion, in the present instance iron.Spur tube 17 and stem 28, being formed of metals having differentcoeliicients of expansion, constitute a thermostatic device and controlthe opening and closing operations of valve 24; in accordance with theinternal heat conditions of the heater.

In order to provide for a convenient adjustment of valve 24, the outerend of post 22, which is preferably squared as shown, enters acorrespondingly shaped recess 2?) in a plug 30 having a flange 31 whichtakes behind the inner walls of a nipple 32 threaded into the outer endof head 9. The outer end of plug 30 is squared "or otherwise shaped toaccommodate a wrench or other turning instrument, and is ext eriorlythreaded, as at 33; to receive a lock nut 34 which takes againstthe endof nipple 32 and thus holds the plug in fixed position. It will beunderstood that a loosening of lock nut. 34 will allow plug 30 to-berotated, thereljiy rotating post 22 upon stem 28 to change thedisposition of the valve 24 with respect to its seat.

Having thus described the construction of this embodiment of myinvention, the operation thereof may now be understood. It will beunderstood that the circulating water flowing through the return pipe(not shown) of the heating system (not shown) and entering either ofinlet ports 5 or (i of drum 1 will circulate through said drum incontact with the exterior surface of steam conduit. 12 to be heated bysuch contact by means of the steam within such conduit, and will flowoutof said drum through the water outlet 7 to a feed pipe (not shown) ofthe circulating system. The steam entering through either of inlet portslt) or 11 from the source of supply passes first into spur tube 17, andthen enters the conduit 12 through the apertures 18 and through thepartly open inner end of the tube. The Water resulting from thecondensation of the steam, within conduit 12 flows rearwardlytherethrough and is con-- ducted to the discharge port 19 through passageway 21 which leads the same to valve 2-1, which by means of therelative expats sion of spur t e 17 and stem 28 is opened or closed in:1 --ordance with the internal heat conditions of the heater. The waterof condensation then passes out of the heater through an outlet portwhich leads from valve chamber 20. it will be understood, of course,that valve 2st has been adjusted by means of plug 230 and post to meetthe particular conditions ot the heating system in which the heater isemployed.

It will accordingly be seen that l have provided a. heating apparatus ofthe above type adapted to attain the several aims and objects of myinvention in an exceedingly simple and ctlicient manner, and that. by myconstruction the use of independent traps and similar contrivanccs fordraining the steam conduits ot heaters as hitherto constructed isentirely eliminated. inasmuch as the spur tube and the valve stem are indirect contact with the steam and lie in the bottom of the steam conduitand in contact with any water of condensation contained thegein, thethermostatic controlling means constituted by these parts isextremclysensitive in its operations. Owing to this feature of construction, theopening and closing movements of the valve respond quickly todifferences in temperature of the circulating water,,thus providing forthe immediate entrance of a. sullicient amount of steam into conduit 12to impart the necessary amount of heat to the circu lating water and forthe discharge of: the water of condensation from the conduit. It willalso be apparent that valve 24 may be so adjusted, if desired, to remainsubstantially closed until the water of the circulating system hasreached a very low temperature, when the same will automatically open topermit the water of condensation to be discharged from the steamconduit, thus eliminating all danger of freezing.

The apparatus is constructed of comparatively few parts, and beingself-contained can be constructed at a less cost than apparatus of thistype as hitherto constructed, and at the same time it occupies less roombeneath the car.

While I have shown my invention as adapted to be applied to waterheating systems for railway cars, it will be understood that l do notwish to limit the same to such emj'iloymcnt, nor in tact to anparticular use, as the same is 'apablc oi being used advantageously inheat ing systems for other purposes, although the same is peculiarlyadapted for use in the relation shown.

A modified form oi the invention is described and claimed in mycopending application, No. 379,327, tiled June 17, 1907.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different UlllbUtll'Il'lGlltS of this invention couldbe made without departing from the scope thereot it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense. It is also to be understood that the language used in thefollowing'claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specificfeatures of the invention herein described and all statements of thescope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said tofall therebetween. 3

Having described my invention, what i claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a heater for a water circulating system, in combination, a waterdrum having water inlet and outlet ports, a steam conduit arranged toheat the water circulating through the water drum, a spur tube in saidconduit for leading steam thereinto and a valve connected with said spurtube and controlled in accordance with the temperature thereof andpositioned to drain the condensation Water from said steam conduit.

2. In a heater for a water circulating system, in combination, a tubularmember hav ing water inlet and outlet ports, a second member locatedwithin said first-mentioned member comprising inner and outer tubes,

having respectively steai'n inlet and outlet ports, and means connectedwith said inner tube and controlled in accordance with the expansionthereof adapted to regulate the discharge from the outlet'port of thesaid outer tube.

3. In a heater for a water teni, in combination, a water drum havingwater inlet and outlet ports, a steam conduit located therein havingsteam inlet and discharge ports, a valve for regulating the dischargefrom said steam conduit, and a thermostatic device for operating saidvalve comprising a tubular member having a relatively high coeflicientof expansion secured at one end within said steam conduit and adapted toconduct steam therein, and a member having a relatively low coetiicicnt.of expansion located within said tubular member and secured to theopposite end thereof, said last mentioned member being connected withsaid valve.

4. In a heater for a water circulating sys tem, in combination, a waterdrum having water inlet and outlet ports, a steam conduit locatedtherein having steam inlet and discharge ports, a valve for regulatingthe discharge from said steam conduit, a tubular member of a relativelyhigh coefiicient of expansion secured at one end Within'said steamconduit to lead steam from said steam inlet port and eccentricallydisposed within said conduit, and a member having a relatively lowcoefiicient of expansion secured to the oppositeend ot said tubularmember and connected with said valve, said tubular circulating sysmemberand said last mentioned member constituting a thermostatic device foropening and closing said valve.

5. In a heater for a water circulating system, in coinbination, a Waterdrum having water inlet and out-let ports, a steam conduit locatedtherein having steam inlet and discharge ports, a valve for controllingthe flow from the discharge port of the steam conduit, and a thermostatc device for operating said valve comprising a spur tube of relativelyhigh coeflicient of expansion secured at one end within said steamconduit and adapted to conduct steam therein, and a rod of relativelylow coeflicient of expansion secured to the opposite end of said spurtube and connected with said valve.

6. In a heater for a water circulating system, in combination, a waterwater inlet and outlet ports, a steam ,conduit located therein havingsteam inlet and discharge ports, a valve for regulating the flow fromthe discharge port of the steam steam tliereinto, said spurtubeextending within said steam conduit and adapted tok discharge steam intothe interior thereof,

and a rod having a relatively low c0etii-. cient of expansion secured tothe opposite s end of said spur tube and connected with said valve.

7. In a heater for a Water circulating system, in'combination, a Waterdrum having water inlet and outlet ports, a steam conduit having steaminlet and discharge ports, a valve arranged to regulate the flow fromthe discharge port of the steam conduit, and

a thermostatic device for controlling said valve comprising a spur tubeof a relati vely high coefficient ot expansion secured at one end withinsaid steam conduit and adapted to conduct steam to the interior thereof,said spur tube being eccentrically disposed therein and. lying in thebottom thereof, and a rod having a relatively low coeiiicient ofexpansion secured to the opposite end of said spur tube and connectedwith said valve.

v In a heater for a water circulating system, in combination, a waterdrum having water inlet and outlet ports, a steam conduit locatedtherein having steam inlet and discharge ports, a valve for controllingthe flow from the discharge portof the steam conduit, and at-lierinostatic device for operating said valve comprising a spur tubeof a relatively high coeiiicient of expansion se-v cured in said steamconduit and lyi'ng in the bottom thereof, said spur tube being adaptedto lead. steam from said steam inlet and provided with" adrum having theavenue of flow of plurality of apertures whereby steam is delivered tothe interior of said steam conduit, and a rod having a relatively lowcoetlicient of expansion attached to the inner end of said spur tube andlying in the bottom thereof, said rod being connected with said valve.

9. In a heater for a water circulating sys tem, in combination, a waterdrum having water inlet and outlet ports, a steam conduit locatedtherein having steam inlet and discharge ports, a valve chamber locatedadjacent the discharge port of the steam conduit, a post located in saidvalve chamber, said post being provided with centering webs extendingwithin said discharge port, a valve loosely mounted upon said post andcovering said discharge port, a spur tube having a relatively highcoelticient of expansion located within said steam conduit and seatedat. one end in said steam inlet port, and a stem having a relatively lowcoefficient of expansion secured to the opposite end of said spur tubeand adjustably attached to said post.

- 10.111 a heater for a water circulating system, in combination, awater drum hav ing water inlet and outlet ports, a steam conduit locatedtherein having steam inlet and discharge ports a valve chamber arrangedadjacent the discharge port of the steam conduit, a post located thereinhav ing centering webs extending within said discharge port, a valveloosely mounted upon said post, a spur tube having a relatively highcoetiicient of expansion extendingwithin said steam conduit andconnected to lead steam from said steam inlet port into said steamconduit, and a stem having a relatively low ceetiicient of expansionsecured to the inner end of said spur tube and having a threadedengagement with said post.

11. In a heater for a water circulating system, in combination, a waterdrum having water inlet and outlet ports, a steam conduit locatedtherein having steam inlet and discharge ports, a valve chamber arrangedadjacent the discharge port of the steam conduit, a post lo -ated in thesaid valve chamber and centered with respect to the said discharge port,a valve loosely mounted upon said post a thermostatic device foroperating said valve comprising a spur tube having a relatively highcoetlicieut of expansion located within said steam conduit and havingone end thereof connected to lead steam from said steam inlet port intosaid conduit. a stem l'iaving a relatively low coefficient of expansionfixed to the other end of said spur tube and having a threadedconnection with said post, and a member having a sliding butnon-rotatable engagement with said post adapted to adjust the same uponsaid stem.

1'2. In a heater for a water circulating system, in combination, a waterdrum havl l l 1 ing water inlet and outlet ports, a steam conduitlocated therein having steam inlet and discharge ports, a valve chamberarranged adjacent the discharge port of the steam conduit, a postlocated in the said valve chamber and centered with respect to the saiddischarge port, a valve loosely mounted upon said post, a thermostaticdevice t'or operating said valve comprising a spur tube having arelatively higlr coetiicient of expansion located within said steamconduit and fixed at one end in operative relation to said steam inletport, a stem having a relatively low coefiicient of expansion fixed tothe free end of said spur tube and having a threaded connection withsaid post, and means for adjusting said valve from the exterior of saidsteam conduit.

1.3. In a heater for a water circulating system, in combination, a waterdrum having water inlet and outlet ports located at opposite endsthereof, a steam conduit located therein having steam inlet anddischarge ports, a valve chamber arranged ad jacent the discharge portof the steam conduit, a post located in the said valve chamber andcentered with respect to the said disclnirgc port, a valve looselyseated upon said post, a collar tixed upon said post, a springinterposed between said collar and said valve whereby said valve isurged in the direction of said discharge port, a spur tube leading fromthe inlet port of the steam conduit to the interior thereof, said spurlube being formed of a metal oi a relatively high coetlicient ofexpansion, a stem secured to the inner end of said spur tube having a,threaded engagement with said post, said stem being formed of a n'iet-alhaving a relatively low eoetlicient o't' expansion, and means foradjusting said post upon said stem to change the position of the valvewith respect to the discharge port of the steam conduit,

14. In a heater for a water circulating system, in combination, a waterdrum havingwatei inlct and outlet ports located at opposite endsthereof, a steam conduit '10- rated therein having steam inlet anddischarge ports, a valve-chamber arranged adjacent the discharge port oithe steam eonduit, a post located in the said valve chaun her andcentered with respect to the said discharge port. a valve loosely seatcdupon said post, a collar fixed upon said post, a spring interposedbetween said collar and said valve whereby said valve is urged in thedirection oE said discharge port, a spur tube bailing from the inletport of the steam conduit to the interior thereof, said spur tube beingformed of a metal of a relativcly high cocliicient of expansion. a stemsecured to the inner and of said spur tube having a threaded engagementwith said i mg a relatively low coefficient of expansion, and a membercapable of rotation from the exterior of said steam conduit having asliding but nonerot-atable engagement with said post adapted to rotatethe same, whereby the valve is adjusted upon said stem.

15. In a heater for a water circulating system, in combination, a waterdrum having water inlet and outlet ports located at opposite endsthereof, a steam conduit located therein having steam inlet anddischarge ports, a valve chamber arranged adjacent the discharge port ofthe steam conduit, a post located in the said valve chamber and centeredwith respect to the said discharge port, a valve loosely seated uponsaid post, a collar fixed upon said post, a spring interposed betweensaid collar and said valve whereby said valve is urged in the directionof said discharge port, a spur tube leading from the inlet portof thesteam conduit to the interior thereof, said spur tube being formed of ametal of a relatively high coefiicient of expansion, a stem secured tothe inner end of said spur tube having a threaded engagement with saidpost, said stem being formed of a metal having a relatively lowcoefficient of expansion, a member capable of rotation from the exteriorof said steam conduit having a sliding but nonrotatable engagement withsaid post adapted to rotate the same, whereby the valve is adjustedupon'said stem, and a lock-nut threaded upon said adjustin memberadapted to hold the same in fixe position.

16. In apparatus of the nature described, in combination, a watercirculating system adapted to serve as a source of heat, a steam conduitadapted to heat the water in said system, a spur tube secured to one endand extending within said conduit adapted to conduct steam therein, avalve controlling the dlscharge of condensation water from said conduit,and a connection between said valve and the free end of said tubewhereby said valve is controlled in accordance wit-h the expansion ofsaid tube.

17 In apparatus of the nature described, in combination, a tubepositioned to act as a heating element, a spur tube mounted at one endand extending throughout its length within said first tubeand adapted tolead steam into the same, a valve controlling the discharge of water ofcondensation from said first tube, and an operative connection betweensaid valve and the free end of said second tube whereby said valve iscontrolled in accordance with the expansion of said second tube.

18. In apparatus of the nature described, in combination, a tubepositioned to act as a heating element, a spur tube mounted at one endand extending throughout its length within said first tube and adaptedto lead steam into the same, a valve controlling the discharge ofwaterof. condensation from said first tube, a' connection between said valveand the opposite end of said second tube whereby said valve iscontrolled in accordance with the expansion of said second tube, and awater circulating system comprising means adapted to lead water intocontact with the outer surface of said first tube to derive heattherefrom.

19. In a heating system, in combination, a casing having feed anddischarge passages therein, a valve located therein adaptso i ed tocontrol the discharge fromsaid casing, a spur pipe connected with saidfeed passage, a steam conduit connected with said discharge passage andsurrounding said spur pipe, and means secured interiorly of said spurpipe and connected with said valve, said spur pipe and said meansconstituting a thermostatic device adapted to control the operation ofsaid valve in accordance with the internal heat conditions of thesystem.

20. In a heating system, in combination, a steam conduit having feed anddischarge ports, a valve seat provided upon the discharge port, a valvecoacting therewith, a thermostatic device for controlling said valvecomprising a spur tube of a relatively high coefficient of expansionlying within said steam conduitupon the bottom thereof, and havingconnection at one end with said feed port, and a rod having a relativelylow coefiicient of expansion secured to the opposite end of said spurtube and adjustably connected with said valve, said spur tube and saidrod constituting a thermostatic device adapted to'control the operationof said discharge valve in accordance with the internal heat conditionsof the system.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

ROBERT M. DIXON.

Witnesses:

G. R. JEWETT, E. E. ALLBEE.

